So, do I need to go get licensed or something now? I would really rather not as I don't exactly like guns a whole lot
#1 I don't see where liking guns would make one like or dislike getting a license. Heck, if anything I would expect those who DISLIKE guns to LIKE having all gun owners licensed.
However, as most others have stated here, it is highly unlikely that you need to have any sort of license or registration.
Here are two sites that will help you determine the laws in your region
http://www.opencarry.org/register.html
http://www.nraila.org/gunlaws/
I think maybe I will do the no-brainer thing and ask a police officer a general question.
That would be a mistake. See, police officers are NOT legal experts. In fact, the laws they are MOST familiar with are traffic codes. If you want to know the exact age a child must be before legally being out of a car-seat, or how big of tires you can put on your pickup and keep it street legal...ask a cop.
yes, police carry guns, but this does NOT make them wise in the way of gun laws, OR wise in the way of guns in general. The best we can hope for is they are wise in the handling of the gun they are issued. Unfortunately, that is often not the case.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFiXuw7LnBQ
I don't plan on selling this ever. I will probably pass it along to my son (12) who is likely to get gun-educated at some point in the future so that his father can take him hunting.
If his father is a hunter, THAT would be a good place to start your quest for information.
Second, at age 12, your kid can probably take a hunter's ed class RIGHT NOW...and so can you.
Or at least do the smart thing and enroll you both in a 'safe gun handling' class, one that emphasizes how to properly respect firearms and handle them safely, without worrying about adding details about hunting regulations.
Contact your local Department of Natural Resources or Fish and Game Division, or whatever your state calls it, Contact a local shooting range, look on the NRA's website, whatever. There are a TON of good resources out there.
Knowledge of how to handle a firearm safely is something everyone should have.
